January 16, 2023, 8:03 AM
January 16, 2023, 8:03 AM
Teenager Shang Juncheng entered his country’s history on Monday by becoming the first Chinese tennis player to win the men’s final draw at the Australian Open.
“I think it’s huge for Chinese men’s tennis. We’ve had really good players on the women’s side, but honestly not big names in men,” said Shang, who also goes by “Jerry.”
“I think I’m very lucky to be a part of it and to be a member of this team. Hopefully we can do something big in the future.” said the 17-year-old, the youngest player in the men’s draw.
The tennis player, classified from the previous rounds, He played almost three hours of the match against the German Oscar Otte, whom he won 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5.
His prize will be a second round match against 16th-seeded American Frances Tiafoe.
The progress of men’s tennis in China was evident in this tournament in which three men from that country participate for the first time in a Grand Slam since the start of the Open era in 1968.
The other two are Zhang Zhizhen and Wu Yibing, who at the last US Open became the first Chinese to win a singles match. of a Grand Slam in 63 years.
However, in Melbourne, Wu lost in the first round to Frenchman Corentin Moutet. in a match of more than four hours (6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5).
